Words: Kristian Gray
Images: Dave Blackburn
Super League Champions Leeds Rhinos finished a week long training camp at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus on Wednesday and coach Bran McDermott, a former Royal Marine himself, was quick to praise the British Forces for its help over the past seven days.
McDermott, who sees his side kick off the defence of their championship in February, feels his team progressed hugely during the training camp in the warmer climate of Cyprus and feels it was the perfect way to prepare for a gruelling season ahead.
Speaking shortly after a full-blooded practice match on the RAF Akrotiri playing fields, McDermott revealed: “This has been an excellent training camp for us and I really feel we have achieved more in one week in Cyprus than we could have ever achieved back in the UK.
“We have had some torrential rain during our time here but when you consider it has been 85 mile an hour winds back at home, this has been excellent for us. The RAF community have pulled out all of the stops for us to make this a smooth training camp and we are really grateful as the facilities and the hosting of the lads in general has been fantastic.”
During their time living and training within the British Forces Cyprus community, the squad took time out of their pre-season preparations to say thank you for the hospitality by parading the Super League trophy around the various bases in Cyprus and giving a few coaching tips to some of the school children.
Rhinos legend Jamie Peacock, who was awarded an MBE in the New Year’s Honours List, was at the heart of the school visits and it was clearly something he relished doing: “I have kids of my own so I really enjoy getting involved with the children and this was a unique opportunity for us to teach children within the military environment who may never get the chance to experience something like this ever again.
“You could see from their faces that they really enjoyed it and all of the lads really enjoyed it too. We have loved being part of the military community for the week and everyone has been so friendly and enthusiastic towards us.”
Shortly before flying back to the UK, the squad wound down by taking to the RAF Akrotiri firing ranges to experience a little of what it is like to be a member of the British Forces under the guidance of the military experts.
McDermott, who served five years as a Royal Marine, spoke of his pride in the Armed Forces before he left: “I think everybody is that proud and we have a few overseas fellows in our team who ask us questions about the Forces and we are very pleased to tell them how proud we are of our service personnel and what they do for our country, I only hope they don’t have to do what they are doing overseas for too much longer.”
He went on to say that despite forging a legendary career in Rugby League, he still looks back fondly on his time in the Forces.
“Not a day goes by when I do not think about serving in the Royal Marines but that was when I was a young fellow and I can barely walk at the moment so I would not be much use to them anymore.”
Principal Flight Operations Manager in Akrotiri, Flight Sergeant Andy Smales, the former head coach of the RAF Rugby League team before his posting to Cyprus, was behind the visit of the Leeds Rhinos and he explained how it all came about: “The Leeds Carnegie women’s team played out here during the Rugby 10s in 2010 and one of the players happened to be one of the Leeds Rhinos development officers who I have known for some time.
“She thought it would be a great place for the guys to do a training camp and although it never materialised last year due to a change of coach, we were delighted that they came out this time before what is going to be a huge season for them.
“It was an intensive camp for them but RAF Akrotiri hosted them brilliantly and they were able to concentrate on pure training and gym work and hopefully they have gone back ready to go.”